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Foley NY Ads Say Connecticut’s “Progressive Policies” Will Change

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — Potential Connecticut Republican gubernatorial candidate Tom Foley began running a television advertisement in New York on Monday that takes aim at the city’s newly elected Democratic mayor, as well as Connecticut Gov. Dannel P. Malloy — but without mentioning his name.

In the 30-second spot, which Foley said is running on Fox News Channel NY and NY1, the Greenwich businessman said he believes that many New Yorkers are thinking about moving away after Bill de Blasio’s election, but probably aren’t considering Connecticut where there are “the same progressive policies you are about to see in your city.”

But Foley, a Greenwich, Conn., businessman, cautions them to wait until 2014.

“Wait a second. Connecticut next year will probably elect a new governor. When it does, Connecticut once again will be the place people want to be in the Northeast,” he said, urging them to “come join us in Connecticut under new leadership” in a year from now.

Neither Malloy nor Foley have announced yet whether they’ll be candidates for governor in next year’s election. Foley, however, has already formed an exploratory committee that enables him to raise funds to help qualify for state public campaign financing.

Candidates for governor in Connecticut must raise $250,000 in small contributions of $100 or less in order to participate in the program. Ultimately, they can receive at least $1.25 million for a primary and $6 million for the general election.

State Democratic Party spokesman James Hallinan said Foley “continues to pursue the most bizarre political strategy known to man. At the rate he’s going, he won’t even be his party’s nominee, much less become governor.”

In October, Foley agreed to pay for a public opinion poll that state election officials claimed was a candidate expenditure, even though Foley hasn’t declared his candidacy. Foley claimed the poll was a legitimate expense of Voters for Good Government, a Delaware corporation that paid for the survey and lists Foley as its treasurer. Foley said it ultimately didn’t make sense to fight the State Elections Enforcement Commission in court and he agreed to cover the $15,504 cost of the poll.

Senate Minority Leader John McKinney, R-Fairfield, has already announced his candidacy for the state Republican Party’s endorsement. Other potential GOP candidates have formed exploratory committees. They include state Sen. Toni Boucher, of Wilton, and Danbury Mayor Mark Boughton.

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